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  • About the Great Jones Dutch Baby Dutch oven

  • How we tested

  • What we like

  • What we don’t like

  • What owners are saying

  • Should you buy the Great Jones Dutch Baby Dutch oven?

  • Related content

About the Great Jones Dutch Baby Dutch oven

The 3.5-quart Dutch Baby cast-iron Dutch oven next to the 6.75-quart enameled cast-iron Dutchess Dutch oven, both in Blueberry color.
Credit: Reviewed / Great Jones

Great Jones Dutch Baby is a significantly smaller version of the brand's larger Dutchess.

Great Jones’ latest addition to its Dutch oven lineup offers a promising alternative for those who want a smaller and more practical Dutch oven in their kitchen.

This compact 3.5-quart Dutch oven is made from cast iron and weighs a compact 11 pounds. (For context, Great Jones's larger Dutch oven weighs 15). It’s safe for all cooktops (including induction) and nests nicely inside its larger sibling product, the 6.75-quart “Dutchess” Dutch oven. It also comes in a wide range of bright hues, as is standard for the trendy Great Jones brand.

Priced at $120, the Dutch Baby is also significantly less expensive than classic brands likeLe CreusetandStaub.

How we tested

Roasted whole chicken inside of the Great Jones Dutch Baby oven next to raw meat and chopped vegetables.
Credit: Reviewed / Jenny Dorsey

We put the Dutch Baby through several common Dutch oven recipes to gauge its performance.

We tested the Great Jones’ Dutch Baby’s ability to heat to high temperatures, evenly distribute heat, and maintain a consistent temperature. We did so by baking crusty bread, searing and braising beef short ribs, roasting poultry, and making a rich stock for noodle soup.

Baking a well-browned loaf requires the Dutch oven to preheat to the right temperature and maintain consistent heat throughout the bake, while locking in moisture. Searing and braising of beef short ribs required the Dutch Baby to uniformly sustain both high and low temperatures for an extended period.

Roasting Cornish hens and chickens (in both covered and uncovered positions) allowed us to assess the Dutch Baby’s ability to maintain a steady roasting environment to fully cook through the meat, as well as brown and crisp the skin. And cooking broth allowed us to evaluate the Dutch Baby's performance in extracting collagen and flavor from the roasted poultry bones.

What we like

The cooking surface heats quickly and evenly, while the lid fits tightly to retain moisture

Fresh baked bread loaf inside of the Great Jones Dutch Baby oven.
Credit: Reviewed / Jenny Dorsey

We were able to achieve a crusty loaf of bread in the Dutch Baby.

The Great Jones Dutch Baby offers a nonstick cooking surface that quickly heats to high temperatures, and then consistently and evenly maintains the desired cooking temperature.

During our tests of wine-braised beef short ribs, we used the Dutch Baby to first sear the beef ribs, then slow-cook them for four hours. The results were tender meat with a smooth, glossy jus that released easily from the Dutch oven during cleanup.

When it came to making stock, the Dutch Baby maintained an ideal light bubble overnight with ease.

The lid of the Dutch Baby notably aids in moisture retention. Its snug fit plays a crucial role in ensuring dishes do not dry out during the cooking process, whether it is a long simmer for meat braises or an initial bake of a sourdough loaf.

We were able to squeeze in a 3.5-pound chicken for testing in the Dutch Baby on one occasion, as well as two Cornish hens on another. Both times, first roasting the poultry lid-on before finishing uncovered allowed for moist, juicy results.

The Dutch Baby is versatile, durable, and dishwasher-safe

The Dutch Baby can be used on all types of cooking surfaces, including gas, electric, and induction stovetops, making it suitable for a wide range of home kitchens.

It is also dishwasher-safe, making post-cooking cleanup simple. We appreciate that detail because most Dutch oven brands discourage cleaning the vessels in the dishwasher.

This Dutch oven is also durable and scratch-resistant. While Great Jones recommends only using wood or silicone utensils to prevent scratching, we used the occasional metal tongs or spatula on the Dutch Baby and didn't notice any deterioration.

The Dutch Baby is oven-safe up to 500°F

The Great Jones Dutch Baby offers a heat capacity of up to 500°F, which was an important factor in our bread testing (which was baked at 450°F).

This feature allows the Dutch Baby to handle the various demands of different cooking or baking techniques, and the flexibility to transition from stovetop to oven without any concerns about temperature limits.

There are lots of bold and beautiful color options

Row of Great Jones Dutch Baby ovens in Mustard, Broccoli, Taffy, Pepper, Salt and Blueberry colors.
Credit: Reviewed / Great Jones

Regardless of your aesthetic, there's a color option to match your kitchen.

Great Jones, known for its retro color palettes, certainly lives up to its reputation with the Dutch Baby.

The array of bold color options is an aesthetic joy for the home kitchen, allowing users to choose a Dutch oven that complements their personal color preferences. It takes it from beyond a cookware tool, to a decorative countertop mainstay that you'll want to leave out even when it's not in use.

Color options include mustard, broccoli, taffy, pepper, salt, and blueberry (which we tested).

What we don’t like

The Dutch Baby is heavier than its counterparts on the market

Two, whole roasted chickens inside of the Great Jones Dutch Baby oven.
Credit: Reviewed / Jenny Dorsey

特别是当填满一个完整的鸡肉或有限公司rnish hens, this pot can be seriously heavy for some.

The Dutch Baby, weighing in at 11 pounds, is notably heavier than some of its market counterparts, such as the Le Creuset (8 pounds, 5 ounces) and Staub (9 pounds, 8 ounces).

While the Dutch Baby felt generally maneuverable during testing, this weight difference—on top of the weight of a chicken or a full pot of stock—may pose an issue for those with mobility issues or looking to avoid putting pressure on their wrists during cooking.

Staining occurred quickly on the outside of the Dutch Baby

During testing, staining did occur relatively quickly on the exterior of the Dutch Baby, which was visible even though we were testing a darker hue.

While this cosmetic issue did not affect the Dutch oven’s cooking abilities, it does take away from the usefulness of the bright color schemes and some users’ desires to leave the Dutch Baby out on the countertop for display.

For those willing to regularly deep-clean their Dutch ovens with vinegar orBar Keepers Friend, however, this may not be a major concern.

What owners are saying

伟大的琼斯荷兰婴儿获得了坚实的4。6-star review on its official website, the only place it’s sold, with users praising the Dutch oven for its vibrant colors, functionality for different cooking needs, nonstick interior for cooking and cleaning, and low price point.

However, it's worth noting that some reviewers brought up the weight of both the oven and the lid as cumbersome to handle, issues with sticking or hot spots during the heating process, and chipping, rusting, and color degradation over the course of long-term use.

Should you buy the Great Jones Dutch Baby Dutch oven?

Yes, if you primarily cook for a small household (and value aesthetics)

The Great Jones Dutch Baby is a valuable addition to single- or dual-person households with any type of cooktop.

Its compact size makes it ideal for preparing meals of moderate portions and gives you the flexibility to efficiently cook a range of dishes from stews and soups to roasts and bread.

The Dutch Baby’s even heating, temperature and moisture retention, and nonstick properties are notable benefits that can enhance your culinary endeavors, and its fun color options add a touch of brightness to the home. But if you're not ready to take the plunge for the sake of aesthetics, consider the more affordableLodge 3-quart Dutch oven.

Product image of Great Jones Dutch Baby
Great Jones Dutch Baby

Cook in style with the heavy-duty Great Jones Dutch Baby that's ideal for smaller meals.

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Meet the tester

Jenny Dorsey

Jenny Dorsey

Contributor

Jenny is a professional chef, author and speaker specializing in interdisciplinary storytelling fusing food with social good. She leads a nonprofit named [Studio ATAO](https://www.studioatao.org) and runs her own culinary consulting business. Her food and work has been featured in outlets such as Food Network, Oxygen TV, Eater, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, among others. Her full biography, food portfolio, and bylines can be found [here](http://jennydorsey.co).

See all of Jenny Dorsey's reviews

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